Time Bandits is one of those untouchable classic children’s films that experience tells me I shouldn’t show to my own children, for they will ruin my memories of it. Terry Gilliam’s time travel fantasy is a remarkably eccentric and dark film that feels distant from the current era of super-smooth, highly honed, cannot-fail mega-products, produced in writing room battery farms in the Disney castle.
The 1981 film told the story of Kevin, an 11 year old whose bedroom is invaded by a band of time-travelling dwarf thieves – led by the wonderful David Rappaport - who have stolen a map from the Supreme Being. Cameos from Gilliam’s Python chums Michael Palin and John Cleese, and other no-longer famous people like Sean Connery, help make this into one better left in your own fond memory banks than shown to Kids Today.
Handily though, Apple TV+ have remade Time Bandits into a new TV show with all the modern slick required to bridge the gap between the generations. While it lacks the idiosyncratic visual flair of Gilliam’s film, it is such a winningly hilarious production that any quibbles from the oldies quickly dry up. In fact, this was always a dead cert, since the series was put in the hands of creators Taika “Thor: Ragnarok” Waititi and Jermaine “Flight of the Conchords/What We Do In The Shadows” Clement and also new non-Kiwi collaborator Iain “Inbetweeners” Morris. These are people who can do gags.
The updated versions sees Kevin Haddock (Kal-El Tuck), a young history buff from Bingley in West Yorkshire whose parents can’t fathom his interests, and wish he’d use his phone and play video games instead.
One night, after Kevin hears banging in his wardrobe he finds it opens onto another time, and a Viking warrior comes running into his room. Next night, it’s a bunch of Time Bandits, led by Lisa Kudrow’s Penelope, who have stolen a map of time and space and are hoping to loot their way through history. Thus starts a series of adventures as Kevin tags along, and then swiftly becomes the voice of reason to this bunch of idiots – if only they’d listen to him.
The gang get caught up in notable historical incidents for individual episodes while being pursued by the Supreme Being (Waititi), who wants his stolen map back, as well as demons sent by Pure Evil (Clement, particularly funny as the deadpan Lord of Darkness), who wants the map for himself.
The delights are many, with my 9 and 12-year old kids belly laughing throughout, as well as – handily for panicky parents who like to convince themselves that TV shows are ok if they have a bit of education sprinkled on top – recognising the various history periods from school lessons. In fact, the whole thing comes across as Horrible Histories with a mega-budget. Time Bandits purists will sniff, but it’s so funny it’s impossible to deny.
Chiefly, this is because the bandits themselves are a hoot, Kudrow having fun in her funniest role since Phoebe, and amply supported by Roger Jean Nsengiyumva as Widget, the winging-it map reader, Tadhg Murphy as new age coward Alto, Charlyne Yi as the sulky wannabe-leader Judy, and Rune Temte as the strong and brave, but not that strong and brave, Bittelig.
Apple TV shows tend to exist outside of mainstream consciousness, excellent shows like Masters of the Air or Severance never quite finding audiences in the way Netflix shows do. You hope Time Bandits does find a way to reach families, for it’s a highly enjoyable solution to summer holiday boredom.
